Valverde assumes control as Evans falters

CYCLING:ALEJANDRO VALVERDE (Caisse d'Epargne) took over the race lead of the Dauphiné Libéré yesterday, attacking on the final climb of Mont Ventoux and taking two minutes and 10 seconds out of the yellow jersey Cadel Evans.

The Spaniard bridged up a group containing Sylvester Szmyd (Liquigas) and pushed on ahead with the Polish rider. Valverde appeared not to contest the finish, giving Szmyd the stage win in return for helping to usurp Evans.

Although he was happy to be back on top of the race he won last year, it was a bittersweet moment. The El Pais newspaper confirmed yesterday that Italian anti-doping authorities had matched Valverde’s DNA to blood bags seized in the Operación Puerto investigation. He has already been banned for two years in Italy and looks certain to miss this year’s Tour de France. A worldwide ban also looks likely.

Irish riders Daniel Martin and Nicolas Roche performed solidly rather than spectacularly on the tough stage. Martin had dropped Valverde in last month’s Vuelta a Catalunya but was far off that pace yesterday, finishing eight minutes and 14 seconds back in 37th place. Roche was 10 places further back in 47th. Both were well inside the first half of the field but will have hoped for more, particularly as they want to secure their place on the Garmin Slipstream and Ag2r la Mondiale squads for the Tour de France.

The ProTour Dauphiné Libéré continues today with another tough mountainous stage, a 106-kilometre leg which crosses the Col d’Izoard en route to Briançon.

Valverde is now 16 seconds ahead of Evans, with 2007 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador (Astana) just over a minute back in third. Martin and Roche are 44th and 48th respectively.

At home, this weekend’s events include the prestigious two-day Rás Connachta. On Sunday National Bike will get underway with family fun cycles in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, in Waterford and from Kildare to Maynooth. See more details on cyclingireland.ie or call 01-8551522.